am I the only one incredulous about what is going on in the Shannon Matthews trial?

[Tommy]

DH can't understand why I am so interested in it (or "excited" as he puts it )

I just can't get my head around it - how on earth did they think they would get away with it? (big assumption on guilt here, I know, but the facts are that she was found in the home of a family member...)

They thought they could get away with it because they are a bit thick.

And I think that they saw all the money flowing in for the Madeleine McCann thing that they thought they could jump on the bandwagon.

But still a bit thick!

They are both pleading not guilty - but he was found with Shannon, so he must be guilty of something?

I know they are not the world's brightest bunnies (understatement of the year obviously)but I still can't understand how a woman could use her child like that?

why am I so interested in it?

Car-crash tv.

• We want to think she didn't really do it.
• I think we are biologically programmed to be fascinated by the extraordinary stupidity of others (if only to learn from their example).

They are thick, wasn't exactly the worlds best thought out plan now was it?

Oh and their defence in the witness box will consist of

She did it
He did it
she did it
he did it

you get the picture.

With those poor kids stuck in the middle of it!

I know ajandjjmum - so bloody sad. She's lost all her kids now. Hope they are safe and happy

I know ajandjjmum - so bloody sad. She's lost all her kids now. Hope they are safe and happy

I am gorily fascinated by it too and feel a bit disgusted with myself for being so. I went a bit Daily Mailish yesterday when I heard she cried on the witness stand and admit to hoping they both get locked away for a long time.

I also bitterly resent the additional amount of public money that is being spent on the trial. I appreciate that we live in a free society that offers justice to all, but if there is one person in the UK that feels they could be innocent I would really like to hear from them.

Thank goodness her DCs are with foster families now. I hope they are able to stay there and get the love and stability that they deserve.

I always watch these things, even when i was on holiday i was engrossed in watching the Ian Huntley trial. I am very interested in Criminal Psyc so i always thought that was why.

I suppose, for the sake of her children, they have to be able to see justice being done.

Well, to be fair (in light of other recent stories that demonstrate truly evil parenting), Karen Matthews never meant any harm to Shannon & the others. If anything, she wanted to improve their future by getting this, er, windfall.

Karen Matthews is as thick as pig shit and unfortunately does not seem to understand the concept of consequences.

I'm confused by the talk of them drugging her and tying her up because I don't see why they'd need to. I was packed off to stay with relatives as a kid for weeks at a time. No one asked me if it was ok and for all I knew they could have been claiming I was missing.

presumably because Shannon would have seen the news about herself being "missing"

TBH, when this first came out, I thought Shannon might have been in on it all but think it's transpired that she didn't know what was going on.

good point peanutbutterkid - unfortunately she was too stupid to realise that they were never going to give reward money to family

I wonder if KM has undiagnosed ADD -- yeah, yeah, you'll all say I'm being a naive softie. But my cousin (30yo) has ADD, and one of the biggest impacts is that she cannot get consequences, even as an adult, she makes truly stupid life choices. But she's not 'stupid' in an academic sense, she just goes on impulse / lives in the moment.

And my cousin had several children by different fathers (after brief relationships, all legging it at first opportunity... sound similar?) She only stopped having babies because she was talked into getting sterilised at age 25 or so.

is stupidity a defence?

your honour, i was too stupid to see what effect this might have on my family long term and that others might see it as a bit wrong...

For lots of us it has come as an insight into a whole world of existence that we were not aware of. I grew up in a poor family, but in those days (I am ancient ) poor people were intelligent and hardworking, they didn't have money but they had sense and dignity - this set-up just did not exist because it couldn't - you worked or starved, and the respect of your peers was important. I feel desperately sorry for Shannon, but at least she now has a chance of a decent life out of that awful set-up - her foster family gave her a kitten and it seems like the first experience she has had of love and affection. Just awful to think of those other children like her with no way out.

MrsGuy, I grew up on a council estate and everyone seemed to work (or tried desperately to get a job)and led pretty boring lives. Infact Shannon's house looked just like my Grandma and Grandads and it seems unreal how much these estates have changed in such a short space of time.

'We didn't kidnap her'

'She made me do it, 'cos she threatened me'

Ladies and gentleman I give you; The Dead Parrot Defence.

Also currently being used by that bastard Tobin.

Matthews certainly isn't going to be winning any prizes for thinking ability any time soon.

Saw somewhere that the poor kid had never even had her own toothbrush before she went into care. IF true it's so poignant. Seems she must be far better off now.

Well I suppose she could be innocent and have been set up by the others around her.

But I somehow doubt it.

Poor little Shannon.

she doesn't seem to be able to find a story and stick to it unfortunately.

Sure sign of habitual liar, sadly!

If they meant no harm to her then drugging her and keeping her fastened up, scared and crying and hidden ina bed wasn't exact;y the best kind of actions surely?

They used that little girl for money. They don't deserve any sympathies IMO. They should be punished and I now hope the children involved are in caring and living homes getting over what has happened to them, at least a little bit.